Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray takes a 91-yard carry to the end zone against the St. Louis Rams in Week 7.

Considering he was facing such a crap defense like the Rams, I had figured DeMarco Murray would make the most of his chance as the lead back in the Cowboys’ offense. Little did I know that he would go on to lead the league in rushing yards with 253. That stat was good enough, but him chipping in a 91 yard scamper for a touchdown was icing on the cake. Many will tell you that Murray looked good simply because the Rams are that bad. But going up against an Eagles Defense that gives up an average of 123.8 rushing yards a game along with a 4.8 yards a carry average to opposing running backs, it’s easy for me to consider Murray a low-end RB1 for Week 8. In my opinion, Murray isn’t a one-week wonder.

Because of so many injuries, from Saints RB Mark Ingram to Colts RB Joseph Addai, I will keep everyone updated daily once players start practicing Wednesday. The rankings could change as more news comes in.

And on that note, below are my running back rankings going into Week 8.

Byes: Falcons, Bears, Packers, Jets, Raiders, Buccaneers

TOP FIVE WEEK-EIGHT MATCHUPS (MUST START)

1. Arian Foster (HOU) vs. JAX: If you are in a PPR league and had Foster going against the Titans, he single-handedly won your league matchup for you. Tallying all the rushing yards (115), receiving yards (5/119) and total touchdowns (3), Foster netted owners 45 points in standard PPR leagues. Ray Rice had a brainfart against the Jaguars Monday night, but what do you expect when you only get 8 carries for the entire game? Don’t expect Foster to be held down by the Jags defense in Week 8.

2. LeSean McCoy (PHI) @ DAL: Even though the Cowboys are stout against the run, the Eagles always seem to put up big numbers coming out of a bye week. This weekend will be no different. In PPR and non-PPR leagues, McCoy should be huge in this NFC East matchup. McCoy is averaging around 115 total yards from scrimmage through the team’s first 6 games.

3. Ray Rice (BAL) vs. ARI: Down by 12-15 points with Rice going up against a mediocre Jags defense, you likely thought you had a win secure. Well, lets just say that Rice’s 63 total yards let down a lot of people Monday night. Don’t fret Rice owners. Your RB1 faces a fairly soft Arizona Defense in Week 8, making him a strong bounce-back candidate.

4. Adrian Peterson (MIN) @ CAR: With Christian Ponder under center against the Packers, AD found a bit more running room in Week 7, rushing for 175 yards and a touchdown. He was noticably limping with an ankle injury, but I have yet to hear that it will keep him out Week 8. The Panthers are one of the worst teams against the run, so Peterson should be in all lineups as usual.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) @ HOU: I remember reading many articles and reports stating that after dealing with a knee injury for all of 2010, that MJD’s career was likely going to be cut short and he would never be the same player that we were used to seeing. Somebody should have told MJD this because he continues to be a hot fantasy commodity. Coming off 105 rushing yards against the Ravens, MJD should continue to be a major part of the offense going into Week 8 against the Texans. Some may consider this ranking a bit too high, but I have a feeling we will see a big day.

Saints RB Darren Sproles' value could go up if RB Mark Ingram winds up sitting against the Rams this weekend.

BEST OF THE REST:

I wish everyone the best of luck this week. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post below.

After a big Week Four, Arian Foster leads the pack as Week Five's No. 1 fantasy running back against Oakland.

Just when we thought Arian Foster was dead in the fantasy waters, he rose to the occasion and took back his rightful place as fantasy football’s No. 1 running back going into Week Five. I am sure there were some owners, like myself, that thought there was going to be a full-blown timeshare between Foster and Ben Tate against the Steelers. Especially after Tate’s string of strong fantasy games while Foster was nursing a hamstring. But Foster appears set to take up where he left off from last season as he begins his quest for a new contract extension.

Below are my running back rankings going into Week Five.

UPDATE 10/7: It appears that Cedric Benson will be able to play at least one more week against the Jaguars. He is a usable RB2 for Week Five. Owners should continue to hold onto Bernard Scott. As for Rashard Mendenhall, he has yet to practice at all this week and is looking like he will be either doubtful or a game-time decision. If he is still on the waiver wire, Isaac Redman makes an excellent option as a three-down back against the Titans. He is even more valuable in PPR leagues. Brandon Jacobs is reportedly dealing with a sprained MCL and has a good chance to sit, pushing Ahmad Bradshaw up a couple spots against Seattle.

TOP FIVE WEEK-FIVE MATCHUPS (MUST START)

1. Arian Foster (HOU) vs. OAK: So much for a timeshare until Foster got his bearings again. After rushing for 155 yards and a score against the Steelers, Foster should have no problems putting up a second-straight performance against a Raiders Defense that gives up 28.6 fantasy points a game to running backs this year.

2. Adrian Peterson (MIN) vs. ARI: Peterson didn’t have a great game last week against the Chiefs, only totaling 80 yards on the ground. But when you are pretty much the best player on your offense, teams are going to do everything to try and stop you. The good news, however, is that the Vikings gave Peterson 23 carries, which they will need to do if they want to keep scores close because their passing game is abysmal. The Cardinals Defense can be run on, making AD a top option for Week Five.

3. Darren McFadden (OAK) @ HOU: McFadden is still rock solid, despite a passing game that is clearly inconsistent. Through four games, he’s averaging 150 total yards from scrimmage, with four total touchdowns. We’d like to see more rushing scores, but the team continues to use Michael Bush closer to the goal line. Still, McFadden should have a big day on the turf at Houston, especially if Bush’s ankle injury keeps him out.

4. Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. PHI: The Eagles Defense is dead last against fantasy running backs, giving up close to 30 fantasy points a game. 49ers RB Frank Gore couldn’t reach three yards a carry in the first three weeks of the season, but put up 8.5 on just 15 attempts against Philly. Bills coach Chan Gailey isn’t dumb. He’ll run Jackson into the ground if he wants to win. I simply can’t see Philly turning the rushing defense around, even in a must-win game.

5. LeSean McCoy (PHI) @ BUF: Watching the Eagles, especially near the goal line, is so frustrating. In Week Three they decided fullback Owen Schmitt was a red-zone option. This week they decided to be cutesy and give the ball to Ronnie Brown, which resulted in a fumble and a turnover. If the Eagles want to win, they have to stop with all these stupid plays and get back to basics. In the first three weeks, McCoy was averaging nineteen carries a game. Sunday he got nine. That’s ridiculous. Unless Andy Reid got a cheesesteak lodged in his brain, I expect double-digit carries from McCoy against Buffalo.

Chris Johnson will look to put up another strong game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week Five.

BEST OF THE REST:

Keep An Eye On:
The Bengals Running Back Situation
If you hadn’t noticed, I left Bengals RB Cedric Benson off the list for the time being. According to head coach Marvin Lewis, the team has yet to be notified by the league regarding Benson’s appeal of a three-game suspension. If it turns out that Benson will be able to play Week Five against the Jaguars, I will add him. In the meantime, Benson owners should have already made other arrangements, including picking up Bernard Scott, if/when Benson has to begin serving his suspension.

I wish everyone the best of luck this week. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post below.

Jason Witten could see a lot of targets against Detroit.

With our tight end guru Ray Tannock predisposed, here are my top 12 tight end rankings for Week Four. For a complete match-up breakdown for tight ends and the other skill players, check out Kurt’s FanDuel article.

Darren McFadden is on fire this year and leads the pack as the No. 1 fantasy running back for Week Four.

With Week Four upon us, we have now seen players like Ryan Mathews and Maurice Jones-Drew cement themselves as quality fantasy options, while guys like Marshawn Lynch and Shonn Greene have made owners cry that they wasted such high picks on garbage. The guys who have disappointed still have plenty of time to redeem themselves, but this weekend will be the week that owners should start looking for other alternatives.

Update 9/30:
Ryan Grant (Bruised Kidney) and Daniel Thomas (Hamstring) both missed practice Friday and could sit out for Week Four. Bump up James Starks in a solid matchup against the Broncos and look at Reggie Bush as a possible low-end PPR flex option against the Chargers if you are desperate for help. Grant and Thomas could be listed as doubtful when the injury report comes out Friday afternoon.

Below are my running back rankings going into Week Four.

TOP FIVE WEEK-FOUR MATCHUPS (MUST START)

1. Darren McFadden (OAK) vs. NE: Many owners got a scare after it was reported that McFadden suffered a groin injury at the end of the Jets game, but it wasn’t severe enough that he could have came back if the team needed him. Through three games, McFadden has averaged 131 rushing yards a game and has chipped in another 28 yards a game through the air. He should be huge against a Patriots Defense that has allowed a little over 102 rushing yards a game.

2. Ray Rice (BAL) vs. NYJ: The Ravens’ passing game was able to do whatever it wanted against the Rams Defense, including that three touchdown performance from rookie Torrey Smith. Rice only carried the ball eight times, but still managed 73 rushing yards and made up for the lack of rushing yards with five receptions for 83 receiving yards. Rice should have another easy day with the Jets Defense that has given up 23.4 fantasy points a game so far.

3. LeSean McCoy (PHI) vs. SF: NFL analyst Moose Johnston pointed out during the Eagles game against the Giants that McCoy looks like a more complete back and has taken his play to a whole new level this year. It’s hard to disagree considering McCoy has been averaging a very strong 6.1 yards a carry through three games. Even though there are a ton of receiving weapons in the offense, McCoy is clearly as big a part of the offense as he has ever been. Start him with confidence, despite the tougher matchup.

4. Adrian Peterson (MIN) @ KC: It’s mind boggling to me that the Vikings had a 20-0 lead over the Lions, yet they refused to give AD the ball more in the second half to wind down the clock as much as possible. That’s just bad play-calling and something that eventually landed Brad Childress on the unemployment line. If The Vikings want to succeed, they have to give the ball to their best play-maker as much as possible. I expect Leslie Frazier to learn from his mistakes and give Peterson the ball as much as possible in Week Four.

5. Fred Jackson (BUF) @ CIN: For the second-straight week, I have to include Jackson in the top five for Week Four. While the Bengals have only given up 15.5 points a game to fantasy running backs, they have dominated against guys like Knowshon Moreno and Frank Gore. After airing it out against the Patriots, I expect the Bills to be more conservative and give Jackson the rock as much as possible.

Ryan Mathews has started pulling himself away from Mike Tolbert and has become a more complete running back.

BEST OF THE REST:

Keep An Eye On:
Roy Helu – Washington Redskins
The Redskins have slowly incorporated Helu in the offense over the last two games and has really progressed. He’s averaging a little over 5 yards a game, compared to Tim Hightower’s 3.5. I don’t recommend owners pick Helu up and automatically use him as a flex option because he still has a ways to go to turning the backfield into a committee. But if you can afford to pick him up and stash him away for the next few weeks, he could eventually be worth the wait.

I wish everyone the best of luck this week. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post below.

Redskins QB Rex Grossman (7% Owned Average)
I may hate the Redskins, but no one can argue just how good Grossman looked at the tail end of last year. Mike Shanahan made the wise choice in not only re-signing Grossman, but naming him the starter over John Beck. Grossman faces a Giants Defense that got absolutely destroyed by injuries in the preseason. He will make mistakes and throw interceptions, but he could easily throw for 250 yards and a score or two. If Grossman puts up big stats, he won’t last long on the wire next week.

Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck (32% Owned Average)
No I’m not throwing Hasselbeck’s name out because I took him in the KFFL Experts League. His matchup against the Jags is one of the better ones going into the weekend. He won’t be an every-week starter because he isn’t the Hasselbeck of old, but no one can argue with you if you had to start him this weekend. He is easily a bonafide QB2 going forward.

Colts RB Delone Carter (20% Owned Average)
With the news that QB Peyton Manning will miss this week and possibly more, the Colts will try their best to keep Kerry Collins as comfortable as possible, meaning they will try and run it more than they have in years. The bad news is that Collins clearly lost it after last year. The good news is that with the offense concentrating more on a running game, Joseph Addai will need help. I had Carter pegged as a sleeper earlier this offseason. Now that he is officially Addai’s backup, that prediction is looking good. Carter’s role is unknown right now, but his ability to push the pile could make him a touchdown vulture.

Jaguars RB Deji Karim (14% Owned Average)
With the off chance that starter Maurice Jones-Drew misses time with an injury, Karim becomes a very strong option in a run-oriented offense. I wouldn’t even be surprised to see Karim get a decent amount of touches in order to keep MJD fresh as soon as this week. Karim is a must-have handcuff, but his value could blow up if MJD goes down.

Raiders WR Jacoby Ford (54% Owned Average)
54% might seem high, but not for a starting receiver and a quality punt returner. Hue Jackson laid it out there when he said that he expects Ford to get between 75-80 passes this season. And lets face it; after Zach Miller left for Seattle, Ford is the most talented receiving option in the offense right now. His upside is off the charts.

Saints WR Robert Meachem (42% Owned Average)
I realize that trying to figure out which receiver in the Saints offense will put up quality fantasy stats is a gamble almost every week, but Meachem shouldn’t be anywhere near your waiver wire for this week. Lance Moore is out with a groin injury against the Packers, a game that could be a shoot out. Now healthy, Meachem could be the deep threat the team needs. Pick him up and use him if you need flex help.

Titans TE Jared Cook (51% Owned Average)
Cook is a bit of an unknown since he has had to share the spotlight with Bo Scaife. But now that he is the starter, I expect big things from Cook this year. He has been lining up at wideout in certain packages and could lead the team in targets this year. With Kenny Britt the only other true option in this offense, Cook could have a breakout season. At the very least, he is a TE2 for now.

Rams TE Lance Kendricks (25% Owned Average)
Kendricks found instant chemistry with Sam Bradford and becomes a very strong pass-catching option outside of Danny Amendola. I really like Kendricks’ sleeper value this week against an Eagles Defense that has had trouble containing tight ends in the past. Kendricks could start if you are that desperate for a fantasy tight end. He is a TE2, like Cook, but with a high ceiling.

Other Notables that might still be worth a grab off the Waiver Wire:
Raiders QB Jason Campbell, Colts QB Kerry Collins, Falcons RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Redskins RB Roy Helu, Patriots RB Stevan Ridley, Browns WR Greg Little, Lions WR Nate Burleson, Rams WR Brandon Gibson, Raiders WR Denarius Moore, Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers WR Antonio Brown, Buccaneers WR Arrelious Benn, Browns TE Evan Moore, Redskins TE Fred Davis, Broncos TE Julius Thomas

Very deep Waiver-Wire option:
Free agent QB David Garrard
After being a surprise cut earlier in the week, Garrard has been rumored to have some interest from a couple teams. The 49ers have been linked to the former Jag, along with the Seahawks, even though Pete Carroll declined the chance to even look his way. If Garrard can land on a team with some solid skill players already in place, he could be a guy to look at in larger leagues if you are really in a bind and can sit on him for awhile.

After the Titans backed up the money truck to Johnson's house, he moves right back up to the top 3 behind AD.

The top 40 list for running backs is now fully updated as of 9/3. This will be the last ranking of the preseason, unless there is major news regarding someone who is injured during the next. As of now, we still don’t have any official word on Arian Foster’s condition (day-to-day), so make sure to check back with the site to see if there have been any changes. These rankings are based on standard PPR leagues where all scoring touchdowns are six points.

Players in red italics have been updated with new outcomes since last week.

If you have any questions, concerns or see something that sticks out like a sore thumb, make sure you leave a comment below or email me at Greg@FantasyKnuckleheads.com.

Running Backs 1-10

Monterio Hardesty's knee woes have helped Peyton Hillis gain some of his fantasy value back.

Running Backs 11-20

With injuries aplenty in Dallas' backfield, Jones could be in store for a career season.

Best of the Rest 21-30

Mike Tolbert cracks the top-40 for the first time in the preseason. He could be a solid flex options.

Best of the Rest 31-40

Now that the dust has settled, Adrian Peterson remained the top-overall fantasy choice in Greg's Top 50 for 2011.

With the third week of preseason football set to close following Monday Night Football in a battle of New York between the Giants and Jets, I have now solidified and finished polishing off the final ranking for my Offensive Top 50 list before Week One of the regular season. Not surprisingly, there were some major changes from the very first ranking I did to the final one. Remember, these rankings do not reflect all the individual offensive rankings. Owners should view this list as a separate entity. Check back regularly during the regular season to see who is moving up and who is bottoming out.

Aaron Rodgers continues his quarterback dominance as the top fantasy quarterback.

For quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers managed to keep his No. 1 overall status as the best quarterback for this season intact. Watching the game against the Colts last week, Rodgers looked in midseason form, getting all this receivers involved and making tight end Jermichael Finley look like he did before his injury in 2010. Even in leagues that give quarterbacks only four points for passing touchdowns, Rodgers has still been going in the top 10 of the first round in a majority of leagues. Not surprisingly, Peyton Manning has been sliding fast over the last few weeks. With the notion that he may not be ready by Week One and the unretiring of Kerry Collins, Manning has gone from a top 15 pick to a 4th, 5th and even a 6th round option. Even if Manning does start Week One, the rust will take time to wear off.

Still not reporting to camp, Chris Johnson has been passed up in most leagues this Summer.

The running backs list has made the most changes of all the positions. With Chris Johnson and Tennessee still embroiled in a contract dispute, his fantasy value has taken a tumble. Ryan Mathews and Matt Forte also took a fantasy hit with Mike Tolbert expected to share with Mathews and Forte dealing with a rejuvinated Marion Barber. Unfortunately for Tolbert, I had to knock him out of the rankings completely and move Reggie Bush into the mix with rookie Daniel Thomas looking absolutely awful in practice and the preseason. While Bush will always have question marks, his value in the passing game will come in handy in PPR leagues. Plus it doesn’t hurt that he is locked into the starting job and not in a timeshare like Tolbert/Matthews.

As for wide receivers and tight ends; Mike Wallace took a leap up after not being in the top 50 at the start of training camps, mainly due to my negligence. Sorry Wallace fans. Andre Johnson still leads the pack, with Calvin Johnson not too far behind. Dallas Clark took a hit with Peyton’s neck problems. Collins is much better than Curtis Painter. But if Collins has to start more than one-two games, the Colts offense is in trouble.

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	BYE WEEK
1	Adrian Peterson	Minnesota	9
2	Arian Foster	Houston	11
3	Jamaal Charles	Kansas City	6
4	Ray Rice	Baltimore	5
5	Andre Johnson	Houston	11
6	Steven Jackson	St. Louis	5
7	Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay	8
8	Calvin Johnson	Detroit	9
9	LeSean McCoy	Philadelphia	7
10	Darren McFadden	Oakland	8
11	Rashard Mendenhall	Pittsburgh	11
12	Frank Gore	San Francisco	7
13	Chris Johnson	Tennessee	6
14	Michael Turner	Atlanta	8
15	Roddy White	Atlanta	8
16	Michael Vick	Philadelphia	7
17	Greg Jennings	Green Bay	8
18	Larry Fitzgerald	Arizona	6
19	Maurice Jones-Drew	Jacksonville	9
20	Peyton Manning	Indianapolis	11
21	LeGarrette Blount	Tampa Bay	8
22	Peyton Hillis	Cleveland	5
23	DeSean Jackson	Philadelphia	7
24	Philip Rivers	San Diego	6
25	Mike Wallace	Pittsburgh	11
26	Tom Brady	New England	7
27	Drew Brees	New Orleans	11
28	Vincent Jackson	San Diego	6
29	Matt Forte	Chicago	8
30	Ahmad Bradshaw	NY Giants	7
31	Hakeem Nicks	NY Giants	7
32	Reggie Wayne	Indianapolis	11
33	Miles Austin	Dallas	5
34	Antonio Gates	San Diego	6
45	Matt Ryan	Atlanta	8
36	DeAngelo Williams	Carolina	9
37	Shonn Greene	NY Jets	8
38	Ryan Mathews	San Diego	6
39	Mike Williams	Tampa Bay	8
40	Brandon Marshall	Miami	5
41	Jermichael Finley	Green Bay	8
42	Tony Romo	Dallas	5
43	Dwayne Bowe	Kansas City	6
44	Dallas Clark	Indianapolis	11
45	Jahvid Best	Detroit	9
46	Wes Welker	New England	7
47	Vernon Davis	San Francisco	7
48	Beanie Wells	Arizona	6
49	Dez Bryant	Dallas	5
50	Reggie Bush	Miami	5